Islander Fortenberry wins Virginia wakeskating event

by Kevin Cassidy
Islander Correspondent

Island resident Andrew Fortenberry gets some "huge" air during the third annual "Wakefest" at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia.

Lifelong Island resident Andrew Fortenberry captured his first wakeskating
competition when he won the Smith Mountain Lake “Wakefest” in
Virginia. The third annual contest took place July
14 in Virginia, where Andrew and his family spend part of their summers
to escape the Holmes Beach heat.

Andrew, who competed in each
of the three events held at Smith Lake, upset the local
favorite to win his first contest, which bettered his previous best when
he finished third last year.

Andrew,
16, and a junior at Manatee High School, now has his
sights on a possible pro career in wakeskating. In addition to his first
title, he also has three sponsors: Sackdown Sports, Utopia Sunglasses
and Freestyle Watches.

Andrew not only competes in
wakeskating competitions, he also video tapes the competitors
and sets it to music. Two of his productions can be viewed on various
Web sites devoted to wakeskating. To view one of Andrew’s productions, simply “Google” Andrew
Fortenberry and wakeskating and you’ll get several hits and some “cool” views
of Fortenberry’s action on camera.

Congratulations, Andrew!

Key Royale golf news

The men and women of Key Royale
Club teamed up to play a coed, mixed-scramble tournament
on Sept. 7. The team of Ron Robinson, Janet Cashman, Matt Behan and Jim
Dunne earned clubhouse bragging rights with a score of 11-under-par 21.
One shot back at 10-under 22 was the team of Erma McMullen, Mary Selby,
Mike Selby and Chuck Reed.

Web Cutting won
closest-to-the-pin on the third hole, while Joyce Reith
flagged it on the eighth hole. Mary Selby and Terry Westby each had chip-ins
on the day.

John Driscoll partnered with
Peter Proxy to fire an 11-under-par 53 to win the Sept.
5, 18-hole, better-ball-of-partners tournament at the Key Royale Club.
Second place went to the team of Bob Kral and Vince Mercadante, who combined
to card a 7-under 57. Third place went to the team of John Atkinson and
Dick Grimme and Al Morgan and John Heiselman, who both carded 4-under
par 59s.

The men also played a nine-hole,
best-ball-of-foursome tournament on Sept. 3. The team
of Al Morgan, John Heiselman and Vince Mercadante won with a score of
57.

Horseshoe news

Tom Rhodes’ six-pack - a
double-ringer - emphatically ended the Sept. 12 horseshoe proceedings
at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Rhodes’ double ringer gave him and
partner Jay Disbrow a 24-17 victory over the team of Steve Doyle and Sam Samuels.
Doyle and Samuels advanced to the finals by defeating the team of John Johnson
and Bill Bartlett 22-16.

Three teams advanced from
pool play with 3-0 records during the Sept. 8 horseshoe
contest. Debbie Rhodes and John Johnson defeated the team of George McKay
and Jay Disbrow 22-17 in the semifinal and followed that with a 23-17
victory over the team of Ron Slagh and Sam Samuels.

Play gets under way at 9 a.m.
every Wednesday and Saturday at the Anna Maria City
Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.

AMICC Soccer League kicks off Spirit Week

The Anna
Maria Island Community Center will start off its soccer
season at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, with a spaghetti
dinner - provided compliments
of the Beach Bistro - at
the “new” Center.

The dinner is the league’s season
fundraiser, with the price for adults $6 and kids
$5. And, while no one will be turned away, families are encouraged to
attend (and pay for) the dinner and to meet their coach, collect their
player uniform and team schedule.

Soccer kicks off with Spirit Week, where
fans and families are encouraged to wear team colors
and show - and
compete in - the
greatest soccer spirit.